Gremlin: Difference between revisions
1d4chan>QuietBrowser (Set up stub entries for the D&D Gremlin and Pathfinder Gremlin sections; the latter in particular needs filling out, because there's a lot of different gremlins in PF1e.) |
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'''Gremlins''' are a kind of monster originating from Britain "neo-mythology", having been concocted by members of the British Royal Air Force within the 1920s as a [[goblin]]-like creature that loves mechanical devices and tinkering - or, more accurately, breaking things, especially to get people hurt. | '''Gremlins''' are a kind of monster originating from Britain "neo-mythology", having been concocted by members of the British Royal Air Force within the 1920s as a [[goblin]]-like creature that loves mechanical devices and tinkering - or, more accurately, breaking things, especially to get people hurt. | ||
Up to 1983 the most famous gremlin in popular culture was the one Richard Matheson sicced on William Shatner in the 1961 anthology ''Alone by Night'', very soon a ''Twilight Zone'' episode. [[ | Up to 1983 the most famous gremlin in popular culture was the one Richard Matheson sicced on William Shatner in the 1961 anthology ''Alone by Night'', very soon a ''Twilight Zone'' episode. And there was a car. Loosely defined. | ||
[[Dungeons & Dragons]] overlooked this breed until [[AD&D|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], when in GenCon XI that post-[[Monster Manual]] [[Jermlaine]] filled that niche - perhaps from the French. | |||
Gremlins by that name became famous again in the 1980s, that cultural wasteland, because of the ''Twilight Zone'' movie and then a disgustingly bad Stephen Spielberg outing. So of course various roleplaying games had to catch up and include them somewhere. For [[Dungeons & Dragons]] they got into the Companion rules where, as usual, they appear out of alphabetic order. They wouldn't have it any other way, we suppose. | Gremlins by that name became famous again in the 1980s, that cultural wasteland, because of the ''Twilight Zone'' movie and then a disgustingly bad Stephen Spielberg outing. So of course various roleplaying games had to catch up and include them somewhere. For [[Dungeons & Dragons]] they got into the Companion rules where, as usual, they appear out of alphabetic order. They wouldn't have it any other way, we suppose. | ||
Gremlins most commonly appear in [[dieselpunk]] or urban fantasy settings, where their status as magical creatures that love to meddle with machines makes most sense. Settings aiming more to fantasy, like D&D noted above, will portray them as a particularly nasty goblin or faerie creature with a particular knack for traps. | Gremlins most commonly appear in [[dieselpunk]] or urban fantasy settings, where their status as magical creatures that love to meddle with machines makes most sense. Settings aiming more to fantasy, like D&D noted above, will portray them as a particularly nasty goblin or faerie creature with a particular knack for traps. | ||
==D&D== | ==D&D== | ||
{{dnd-stub}} | {{dnd-stub}} | ||
In | In Dungeons & Dragons, at least in AD&D, gremlins are described as a member of the [[goblinoid]] family that resemble [[imp]]s, as they have wings and small tails. By 1993 the Monstrous Manual had for the Gremlin category five different kinds: the standard gremlin, the '''Fremlin''' (''Fr''iendly gr''emlin''), the '''Gallatrit''', the '''Mite''' and the '''Synad'''. Some of these had been annexed from other little pesty goblinoids. For whatever reason the Jermlaine are NOT so annexed; they're listed on their own as "Gremlin, Jermlaine". | ||
[[Ravenloft]] is home to its own divergent member of the species, the wingless [[gremishka]]. | |||
==Pathfinder== | ==Pathfinder== | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
Pathfinder | Various gremlinkind debuted in the [[Pathfinder]] [[adventure path]] ''Legacy of Fire'', at least for its opening act ''Howl of the Carrion King'' - and indeed, in the desert you do ''not'' want to meet up with them. They also infest the Darklands. They've shown up in various Bestiaries. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
Revision as of 16:01, 16 June 2021
Gremlins are a kind of monster originating from Britain "neo-mythology", having been concocted by members of the British Royal Air Force within the 1920s as a goblin-like creature that loves mechanical devices and tinkering - or, more accurately, breaking things, especially to get people hurt.
Up to 1983 the most famous gremlin in popular culture was the one Richard Matheson sicced on William Shatner in the 1961 anthology Alone by Night, very soon a Twilight Zone episode. And there was a car. Loosely defined.
Dungeons & Dragons overlooked this breed until Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, when in GenCon XI that post-Monster Manual Jermlaine filled that niche - perhaps from the French.
Gremlins by that name became famous again in the 1980s, that cultural wasteland, because of the Twilight Zone movie and then a disgustingly bad Stephen Spielberg outing. So of course various roleplaying games had to catch up and include them somewhere. For Dungeons & Dragons they got into the Companion rules where, as usual, they appear out of alphabetic order. They wouldn't have it any other way, we suppose.
Gremlins most commonly appear in dieselpunk or urban fantasy settings, where their status as magical creatures that love to meddle with machines makes most sense. Settings aiming more to fantasy, like D&D noted above, will portray them as a particularly nasty goblin or faerie creature with a particular knack for traps.
D&D
In Dungeons & Dragons, at least in AD&D, gremlins are described as a member of the goblinoid family that resemble imps, as they have wings and small tails. By 1993 the Monstrous Manual had for the Gremlin category five different kinds: the standard gremlin, the Fremlin (Friendly gremlin), the Gallatrit, the Mite and the Synad. Some of these had been annexed from other little pesty goblinoids. For whatever reason the Jermlaine are NOT so annexed; they're listed on their own as "Gremlin, Jermlaine".
Ravenloft is home to its own divergent member of the species, the wingless gremishka.
Pathfinder
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Various gremlinkind debuted in the Pathfinder adventure path Legacy of Fire, at least for its opening act Howl of the Carrion King - and indeed, in the desert you do not want to meet up with them. They also infest the Darklands. They've shown up in various Bestiaries.
Gallery
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2e Monstrous Manual
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